Feb 10 - Today Is Safer Internet Day
Today, Childline Gibraltar is hosting an information stall outside the ICC for Safer Internet Day to encourage the community to come down for a chat. The Education Team have prepared leaflets aimed at adults and young people giving tips on how to stay safe online.
Coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre the celebration sees hundreds of organisations get involved to help promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.
Globally, Safer Internet Day is celebrated in over a hundred countries, coordinated by the joint Insafe/INHOPE network, with the support of the European Commission, and 31 national Safer Internet Centres across Europe.
The day offers the opportunity to highlight positive uses of technology and to explore the role we all play in helping to create a better and safer online community. It calls upon young people, parents, carers, teachers, social workers, law enforcement, companies, policymakers, and wider, to join together in helping to create a better internet.
Online safety is an increasing area of concern for Childline in Gibraltar, where we are not immune to any of the dangers posed by uncontrolled internet use by young people. The key online risks to children are the fours C's:
Contact: children can be contacted by bullies or people who groom or seek to abuse them
Content: age-inappropriate or unreliable content can be available to children
Conduct: children may be at risk because of their own behaviour, for example, by sharing too much information
Commercialism: young people can be unaware of hidden costs and advertising in apps, games and websites
Childline Gibraltar supports the UK's Safer Internet Centre's campaign which advises parents and carers to take the following steps to help protect their children online:
- Have ongoing conversations with your children about staying safe online
- Use safety tools on social networks and other online services, eg Facebook/Instagram privacy settings
- Decide if you want to use parental controls on your home internet
- Understand devices and the parental control tools they offer (see www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-and-resources)
The Childline team are available to come and talk to both children and parents/carers about internet safety and can be contacted on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
If you are concerned about your child's internet usage and would like information or further resources to help you educate your children please call Childline’s free confidential Helpline 8008 any evening between 5pm and 9pm to speak to one of their trained volunteers. You can also contact Childline online via their website www.childline.gi or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Childline's Education Programme is funded by The Parasol Foundation, formerly known as The Bonita Trust.
